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Mr Universe 1952 Winner is Over 100 and Still Tries to Compete

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Manohar Aich is an Indian bodybuilder who had a great career and is living an incredible life, and he’s not hanging up the spray tan and Speedos just yet. At 102 years old, Manohar will probably never give up the gym life because the gym life is all he knows.

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In 1942, when Manohar Aich first joined the Royal Air Force, he was introduced to weightlifting and inspired by a British officer named Reub Martin. While in the air force, he received a lot of praise for his physique but never quite took it to the next level yet. A few years later, he was thrown in prison for protesting against colonial oppression, and while locked up he really got serious about getting big.

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While in jail, he would train for upwards of 12 hours a day doing bodyweight exercises because there wasn’t any equipment to use. The guards were impressed with his dedication, so they would slip him some better food in order to help with his training. In 1947, India gained their independance and Manohar was freed from prison.

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He is a 3x gold medalist at the Asian Games, but his crowning achievement came in 1952 when he won the Mr. Universe competition after placing 2nd the  previous year.

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At just 4’11”, he was given the nickname “Pocket Hercules” and it stuck after all these years, but there’s nothing small about Manohar. Not his heart, not his muscles, not his story…

Next page to see what he looks like now:


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